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2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z)
Grand St (B, D)
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Guacamole is mandatory, made fresh at your table, spicy as you want. The chips aren't warm but they're large and thick which I like.
I'm constantly on the hunt for the perfect fish taco and i've tried a myriad of them in the city but this one has brought me back. These baja-style flounder tacos come served on a platter like a mountain, piled high, breaded fried fish topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, sliced avocado on blue corn tortillas with 2 creamy dipping sauces on the side . Each taco is set on 2 tortillas and really the portion is so large you can actually separate the tortillas and make 6 separate smaller tacos. Perfect for two people to share and for $17 it's a steal of a deal. The grilled corn wasn't as good as Cafe Havana, i know it's out of season but it wasn't blackened enough and too much mayo. Still edible though.
I've been here a few times and i always order the same thing. My first visit I had enchiladas, mediocre. Seemed to be missing something, so the second time I had the fish tacos. Ever since I haven't been able to shake the craving for the fresh, fried, folded goodness.
Overall, the space is really small, tables are tight, service is a bit aloof and the "cash only" makes this place a once-in-a-while stop as opposed to weekly must. The guacamole & the fish tacos are the perfect reason to go back though.
Small restaurant, but then again, what restaurant in ny isn't small?
I had the taco arrachetta, or I think I did. My taco came to me with def some bacon bits. I love bacon, but I recalled on the menu that taco arrachetta didn't have bacon. Whatever, it was fucking delicious. The meat was a tad bit dry though.
The guac was delicious. You can't go wrong with guac.
One downer about this joint is the price. $19 for three tacos? $14 for large guac? Who are you? Rick Bayless?
Living in Chicago now where mexican food high and low cuisine are abundant, I found the prices to be high for what they were serving. But, being the case that this is one of the only few middle tier mexican restaurants in NY, I suppose the price was reasonable.
Def go here if you're craving good mexican food. Don't be blown away by the food though, it's nothing imaginative.
A cozy little nook with warm service and another Mexican restaurant with interesting menu combinations and unique specials. The shrimp ceviche appetizer was unbelievably fresh. Despite the long wait for our meal, the margaritas kept up preoccupied after the ceviche. I decided on their enchilada dish with mole sauce (I like ordering this just to compare how different chefs prepare this sauce). The sauce was on par with Mesa Coyoacan in Brooklyn, but the chicken was so so b/c it tasted like it contained sulfites. My friend got the beef enchilada, but instead of the typical tomato based sauce, it was a rich meaty brown gravy.
For quite some time, we've been passing this place on our way to other destinations always thinking about when to finally try it out. After our experience, we were happy with the choice. Cash only.
Whenever my friends come from out of town-I bring them to Mole. They always ask-why do NYers like to wait in line to eat, but this is one worth waiting for because at this lovely eatery, the wait can get incredibly fun and exciting.
Came here a few weeks ago with a mate from the UK and the expected wait was 30 minutes for 2(it was actually longer)-so we decide to get a small spot at the bar and have mojitos. Two or three mojitos and a Tequila Shot with the bartender later- we are happily munching on our fresh guac and ordering entrees because we are having so much fun. F-the table, the bar is the place for me! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE STAFF HERE they are awesome! Food and drink are delicious and always deliver.
Can't wait to go again.
The made are your table guac is a great way to start a meal.
The taco have great flavor.. and the spicy salt on the rim of some very tasty margaritas make this well worth a visit.
great bartender, quaint little place, sweet margaritas. The guac is a must have and the chimichanga is the biggest I've ever had. They do a mad corn app (like the cuban corn) so give that a go as well. SMALL place so don't go with more than 4 or your not gettin a table.
First of all I would hate to be a waitress here because it is tiny tiny tiny...but totally cozy! The food had unbelievable flavors. I had the grande burrito way too much food but the sauce that came with it was fab! The freshly made guacomole was really good! My friend her BF and I ate way too much, I ended up ordering a drink called sex with a Mexican in a prison which was YUM! the drink that is...
The service was great, and so was the food we ate way too much! I felt like the burrito weighed 5 pounds....but hey it's all good!
They make this awesome guacamole right at your table, as spicy as you want it. Awesome drinks. Super friendly bartender who makes daily fresh squeezed margaritas. Great date spot as it is small and intimate.
My BF is an avid mexican food eater. He can have it every night of the week and be happy so it goes without saying that he loves Mole. Not only is it pretty much right across the street from our place, but the food is pretty tasty.
I've been here three times now and for some reason, everything I order I am "meh" on but everything my BF orders is always super tasty. Strange how that pans out. Anyway, my favorite so far has definitely been the special they had this last time we went. It was a braised short rib with a green chile mashed potato and crisp onions. That pork fell off the bone and the sauce was yum!! We also had the mexican coffee which is sweet like hot chocolate but zesty with tequila. Ohh yum!
Last thing to note about this place is that it's loud. The place is really tiny (maybe less than 10 tables only on the inside) and the music is really loud. This is the place to go if you and a friend want to sip margaritas and flirt with other people at the bar, but not the place to take your parents when they are visiting from out of town and want to hear all about your dissertation. Yup.
Oh, also, CASH ONLY.
Incredible food, strong margaritas, and friendly service abound in this tiny little Mexican establishment on Allen Street just off Houston.
I had the most amazing Camarones A La Mexicana, which is a really nice amount of shrimp, sauteed with fresh tomato, onion, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice. Incredible! And my fiend ordered the same thing but with Bistec and he devoured the dish down to every last onion. We also tried the Nachos which were really well done...the chips didn't get too soft though there were a lot of ingredients...a key point when serving nachos. I do wish the server had made a note when I asked for rice only and no beans.
Be aware, they only accept cash. There is an ATM just outside the door. And they don't take reservations, so you may have to wait.
I have found another restaurant in NYC that has good Mexican food. I am very particular since I grew up in Southern California in a little city that had Mexican food everywhere (don't bother asking which little city because unless you know So. California well - you won't know it). :P
Came here with a friend last week and I enjoyed the food, not to mention that drinks were SUPER strong! I had the mango margarita and my friend had the mango mojito, these drinks were strong! We ordered the chips and 6 or 8 (can't remember now) different types of salsa as an appetizer. So good! As the main course, I had the chicken enchiladas with the green sauce that came with beans and rice. There was lots of chicken and cheese! Yum! Some places don't give you enough meat and all you taste is tortilla, but not this place. My friend had the veggie quesadillas. We both finished off our plates!
The inside is quite small, so sat outside (it was bit chilly, but tolerable). Our server was quick and attentive.
I'd come back here, my roommate says the burritos are awesome, next time I'll go for that.
But I still miss Southern California mexican food. -sigh.
The wife and I stopped by Mole on a whim... they had a sign boasting $5 margaritas during happy hour, so we were unable to resist. We intended only to have a drink, but found the menu intriguing, so we had to try it out.
The margaritas were high quality. Tasted like tequila and lime, like they're supposed to. Not a mix in sight. And only $5 until 8pm!
I can't speak for the whole range of food, but what we had was mighty good. We got the salsa sampler, that took us from a green tomatillo salsa all the way to something dark and black and evil (translation: bloody good). The only drawback was that there weren't enough chips in the order to satisfy our needs, and much of the salsa went unconsumed.
I got an order of tacos with carnitas and blue corn tortillas. All of it was fantastic, and the variety of food splashed on the plate was just great. Basically a sampler of all the traditional sides... pico de gallo, guacamole, black beans, rice, etc.
The service could have been better. We weren't asked if we wanted another round of drinks until we were about ready to leave, and another table had problems getting the server's attention for anything.
I ate here not long after this place opened, but definitely recall with detail the experience.
pros: delicious. can't really comment on the authenticity factor, but definitely very tasty, and fresh ingredients. i recall the price as what you would expect for a good mid-priced meal in manhattan.
cons: as others have mentioned, a very tiny space. as in, it felt a bit cramped. but we were sitting in the back, a different table in the middle might be better.
i would go here again, for sure.
By the end of the night, I'd discussed the Mumbai jewelry district with two gay men celebrating their one-year anniversary (in honor of which we did shots) and enjoyed the best plate of chiles rellenos thus far in my life. All in all, a WIN kind of night.
It was early, it was a gorgeous summer Tuesday, and the thought of takeout and crap end-of-summer television was truly depressing. I thought to myself, "Self, why don't you take your book and hit up some neighborhood place and enjoy." I always walked by and wanted to try their happy hour, and though it was past 7, I went up Allen St. to Mole.
Santiago was behind the bar and gave me a sample margarita in a shot glass - passion fruit. I'm not really a fruity drink girl, so just asked for fresh lime juice and tequila. Santiago looked at me very seriously and said, "We don't have any of that sour mix here. We only do lime juice." I could have given them five stars just for this.
Something in the sauce on my chiles rellenos was mysteriously spicy/smoky, but not too hot. The flavor was rich and warm and I loved every bite. As Claude Lebel inched closer and closer to identifying The Jackal, I was tapped on the shoulder and asked to scoot down a stool so a couple could sit together. Naturally I moved, and naturally after half of a margarita, I began chatting with them.
Two celebratory shots later, the beautiful and hilarious men left me to head to their "real" anniversary party. I went back to my book, finished licking the lemon juice-chili pepper-salt blend off my glass, and got the last bit of my dinner wrapped up to remind me the next day in my mariachi-less office of the delicous flavors I could count on at Mole.
Positives: None
Negatives: Many
Walked immediately greeted by a nice Spanish speaking man who said something in Spanish, smiled at us, and made us feel nice. We looked over the menu and found some lunch specials that looked ok so we decided to give it a go... I ordred the tacos, she ordered the enchiladas... Then he said that the lunch special prices didn't apply on the weekend. The tacos would go for $12 each, not $8. The waiter told us about the $5 margarita specials, we declined. Didn't feel like drinking. He asked again. I re-declined.
The chips and salsa arrived first. Salsa, in my opinion is thr true mark of a Mexican meal. Do it well and everyone leaves fat and happy. Do it bad and end up with 1 star review on Yelp! Unfortunately, The "salsa" at Mole' was absolutely devoid of anything fresh, and was served in the smallest dish I've ever seen. It could easily have been made from ketchup and hot sauce. It was so bad that we decided to order smoe queso (we wanted to eat chips after all!). Big mistake.... The queso arrived at the table still hard, not even soft. We ended up resorting to the knife and fork to cut the cheese in bite sized pieces to layer over the chips... The rest of the meal was forgettable, although he managed to ask if we wanted a margaritta again. The taco meat was cut small and tasted crispy. She made a face when I asked about her enchilada. At the end of the meal the waiter promptly informed me that credit cards weren't allowed.
Well if you haven't done so yet, you can go ahead and cross off Mole' as a viable Mexican. Why is it so difficult to find reasonably priced Mexican food in the city?
I had a fantastic time at Mole, but I am now wise (yelp) enough not to confuse a good laugh with good food.
The mole sauce certainly couldn't compare to the many varieties I tried in Oaxaca, Mexico last December, but it was a solid B. The margaritas (especially mango) were delicious and mighty loaded - a solid A. My enchilada was a B+ at best. The green sauce overpowered the ingredients and the beans were a little dry, but overall the flavor was decent.
The boisterous bartender (and owner) was cool and had a real passion for his restaurant and Mexican cuisine. I loved the small town feel of Mole. For those two hours, I forgot for that I was on Allen and Houston, one of the busiest intersections in lower Manhattan.
I'll go back if I am in the area and someone else is craving Mexican, but I don't think I'll seek Mole out. For that matter, I've only found one Mexican joint in New York that was truly impressive. It's called Maya and its on the upper east side. Note to self - Review Maya.
A lot of mixed reviews here, but I am a huge fan of Mole. It is not the best Mexican food in New York by a long shot, but if you're on the LES and craving fajitas and a strong margarita, you really can't go wrong here.
Let's start with the margs because I truly believe this is one of the best margaritas in the city. If they are offering the lime flavor when you visit PLEASE go for it, it's delish. Other than that, I stick with the original. Not to be missed.
If you feel like splurging on an app, go for the tableside guac, you won't be disappointed. Otherwise, the house salsa they give you isn't bad, actually, I usually get hooked on it.
I've had tacos, fajitas and quesadillas (wild mushroom variety) and I have loved everything - and believe me, I am discerning about my Mexican! It's my favorite type of food, after all. My roomie also usually gets a fried goat cheese salad that I've tried and is awesome. And oh yeah! The elote! (Corn covered in cheese, pepper, butter and other wonderous things) It's fantastic, although pricey at like 5 bucks for a corn on the cob. But this thing is practically a meal in itself if you're not especially ravenous.
Bottom line, Mole = solid choice.
ON CA MEXICAN IN GENERAL AND MOLE IN PARTICULAR
Like some other reviewers, I used to live on the West Coast which apparently qualifies us as "experts" on Mexican food.
Don't get me wrong, I am tempted to climb on my soapbox and dismiss New York Mexican as a pale reflection of the West Coast gold standard. But upon consideration I have to politely disagree with the CA contingent. In my mind, NY Mexican isn't inferior to the supposed benchmark offerings of the West. It's just less specialized.
The Californians are going to hate me for this generalization but I'm going to say it anyway: West Coast Mexican has been subtly warped by an over development of the burrito. Over there, too many Mexican places focused all their energy on offering the best burritos possible because they knew the locals couldn't get enough of that particular dish, particularly for takeout which constitutes the bulk of everyone's business. Today it's hard to find a burrito that even remotely resembles the simple, diminutive original.
So no, there really is no burrito here that compares to that of the West as some reviewers have pointed out. With that kind of lengthy history of development, how could there be? That doesn't mean that NY Mexican doesn't make the grade in the aggregate.
On the contrary, I've had many finely prepared Mexican dishes here that vindicate Mexican cuisine in the Big Apple. I'm particularly enamored with the tamales and sopes from the street vendors and shacks of Brooklyn. Moreover, the little Mexican delis often produce excellent enchiladas and tortas.
This is a long digression, getting to Mole:
The restaurant is a Manhattan "gringo" joint to be sure whereas the establishments I just referenced cater to the natives. It has all the strengths and weaknesses of Mexican oriented towards American palates.
On the plus side, the space is invitingly lit and lovingly appointed with talavera tile. Once seated, one will almost certainly order a margarita. They are outstanding! Well balanced and savory...a testament to mixology. Next up, tortilla chips paired with some of the best Guacamole I've had in ages, superb texture and richness.
The mains are where "gringo" joints often fall short and where their more authentic relations excel. Don't get me wrong, Mole's entres are solidly produced with clean, vibrant flavors. However, there is a distinct absence "soul". In this instance, "soul" means saturated fat, deeply laden spice, and salt. That's not a fault so much as a stylistic decision which I completely understand. Contemporary American palates don't respond well to that style of cooking which is meant to be served in smaller portions with different ratios of fat to starch.
Conclusion:
Taken as Mexican food crafted for domestic enjoyment, Mole easily deserves 4 stars. Taken as Mexican food in the big picture, I'd have to say 2 stars.
I rather thought my experience at Chipotle was better and cheaper. For $19 per person for a meal, I found this place incredibly expensive for mediocre food.
Our waiter was really sketchy and would not tell us the different between a burrito and a burrito grande. "Just bigger" he kept on saying as to somehow encourage us to pay an extra $2 for the burrito grande.
The guacamole is fascinating and was the only good thing of my night else I would have given a worser rating. The waiter makes the guacamole right at your table. It's fascinating to watch them make it.
On top of the sketchy waiter, my marinated grilled steak burrito was marinated unevenly. Some meat had no flavor while others were so salty that I couldn't finish 1/4 of the burrito.
Worse part of the night was when they told us when we were paying the bill that they only accept CASH only. Seriously, they should write that on their windows so we don't step in to eat dinner. I had to beg off $20 from a friend who fortunately had extra cash. A little forewarning to customers maybe?
Being that I am from LA, I knew the mexican food in New York could not compare. So I ordered from Mole with a very low standard. I had to remind myself that I was in New York, in order to pay $10 for a burrito and $7 for nachos. By the time I received my order, the cheese on my nachos had already solidified into a ginormous single piece and the chips completely soggy; making the nachos inedible. However, the burrito was not as bad as I would have imagined. I have had both the carne asada and carnitas burrito; both of which were not spectacular, but would lightly appease the craving I would develop for mexican food every so often.
Overall, if you want edible Mexican food in New York, you can't go wrong with Mole. However, if you're from LA like me, you should enter with lower expectations. As a word of advice, do not ever order Nachos for delivery. I would love to come in next time for their happy hour, but till then; my rating stays as is.
kudos to Nathalie, organizer for tamale, tequila and latin food lover's group, for bringing me here. margaritas are really good. ribs, yammie yammie. staff engaging. nothing against the servers, but i prefer sitting at the bar to talk to Nick.
u$5 margaritas, 4-7 each and every.
will return for more details...
OH... ribs... ribs.
Some people claim this is the best Mexican place in New York. I sure hope not...though I am close to giving up. Having spent four years in San Diego (Cotixans, Roberto's) and three years in SF (Mission district, http://www.burritoeate...), I'd have to say this is one of the very few areas NY food fails at. Though, the happy hour here kicks some serious ass. Cheap, strong and tasty margaritas.
Having said that, the guac and chips (spicy) at Mole are actually pretty amazing and are freshly made at your table, like most famous gauc places in NY. Yes I'm allergic to avocadoes, but screw that, I'll take the risk of a constricted throat and death for food.
Their special of the day was a 6-hr slow roasted garlic pulled pork. This sounded amazing. Garlic and pork are magical words, and slow-roasted for 6-hrs doesn't hurt! It was good, but nothing near what I expected and nothing I would order again.
Scallop tacos sound tasty but scallops naturally don't really have enough taste to then be wrapped in a tortilla and surrounded by veggies
Going to LA in a few weeks and can't wait for the taco trucks, then going to SF in April and you will find me with a 2 pound burrito, super sized strawberry aqua fresca and maybe a side of taquitos...and chips and guac....
as always, http://www.alexeatswor...
kick ass happy hr. cheap strong margaritas. food was pretty good but nothing spectacular. my group… Read more »
Came here on a Friday with two friends and sat down right away. We liked their $5 Happy Hour which included: Margaritas (not flavored), Nachos, Quesadilla or Guacamole with chips. The margaritas were good, as were the nachos & the guacamole.
I ate a beef enchilada that was Delicious and the two other girls I went with also enjoyed their empanadas and tacos.
The service was good and attentive, the only thing that was annoying was it was Cash only and it there was not a sign to be seen. I had no cash and I don't have an ATM card anymore so I had to take an advance on the ATM from my credit card and was sort of irritated. I feel like if you don't take cards there should be a sign on the door. If you have a computer system that you do orders on, it's just assumed that you take cards.
The only reason I am not giving Mole 5 stars is its size. It's too small and too noisy. (I'm an old fart before my time; I prefer conversation with my supper.) Oh, and they're cash-only.
End of negative comments.
I've been there three times and was SO glad I went each time. The guac was amazing, and my burrito was exceptional. The bartender is a hottie, which can only help. all the staff is super friendly.
Based on what I've read on yelp, every restaurant that serves even vaguely Latin cuisine is heralded for the "best mojitos in the city."
And I lack the experience to tell you whether this mole sauce compared to that in Mexico itself.
That isn't the point. Mole is about having a good time when you go out for dinner.
Come to Mole with a date or a small group and come ready to appreciate the vibe and have a good time. The bartender is talkative and attentive, the drinks are pretty stiff, the food is fun and tasted great after a couple cocktails, and the atmosphere is lively.
Nice guacamole made tableside. Good atmosphere. Great first waiter but the main guy (manager?) was really obnoxious. He talked to everyone in the restaurant, including us, too much. He was so loud we couldn't escape his voice to enjoy our own meal. He checked on us too often and then was a little too unhappy when we didn't want more food or alcohol midday on a Sunday.
Bottom line, decent fresh mexican but experience seems to vary depending on wait staff. Without the obnoxious manager I would absolutely be back again.
Mole is definitely one of the my favorite places to eat on the LES. I went to Mole a few weeks back with a group of 4 on a Friday night. The place is tiny, seating roughly 30 people. When we arrived, there was a group of people waiting anxiously outside as well as in the nearly non-existent entrance of the restaurant.
Fast forward 15 minutes. I found myself with my friends, huddled around a small table in the rear of the restaurant. We ordered a round of margaritas, which were as good as they come, as well as tortilla chips and fresh guacamole. To my surprise, a man on the staff came to the table with a mortar and pestle, asking how spicy we wanted our guacamole - definitely a nice touch.
The interior of the restaurant is warm and cozy, with exposed brick walls, Mexican art, and small candles lighting each table. Most tables were small, seating only four, however, there is a large table in the rear of the restaurant that could probably seat 10 and would be ideal for a group outing.
Upon being seated, I know each of us has at least once locked in on a menu item and completely ignored the waiter while they reveal the specials, but definitely pay attention here, Mole has excellent specials that change daily. On this particular night, my group happened to take advantage of a special enchilida dish that was out of this world.
As the meal progressed and the rounds of margaritas continued to be brought around, my group began devouring plates of quesadillas, empanadas, and fajitas. Every dish was authentically Mexican, tasted delicious, and was clearly made with fresh ingredients.
The waitstaff was very attentive to our group the entire meal. Towards the end of our experience, my group began taking shots of Patron. The bartender was nice enough to upgrade our shots from Silver to Reposado. We even convinced our waiter to take a shot with us, which made for a good time.
To wrap things up, Mole is top notch Mexican (it rivals Mercadito - see my review below). The restaurant, staff, and food is awesome. The best part of eating at Mole is that once you've consumed far too many margaritas, shots of patron, and quesadillas, you're in the heart of the LES, prime for a night out. Definitely go!
I'm so torn. I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. The plantains and chipotle salsa are awesome! Any non-vegetarian will probably love this place.
BUT the night I found a HUGE chunk of meat in my VEGAN burrito was the night I vowed never to eat there again.
They obviously don't separate their food very well. Not good for allergies and people with special diets. They should really be more careful.
So sad because I really do love this little spot on Houston/2nd ave.
Love the Margaritas!!! Thanks to these Margaritas we will be having a boy in November. The place is not huge but what do you expect for the LES. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 but it is plenty of time to get blasted on 5 dollar margs. This place really needs to take cards its cash only.
Friendly ownership, tasty small dishes. Standard LES pricing, so don't be caught off guard.
One of the better upscale Mexican places in the city
I'm a dining snob. I like pretty places with high prices and fancy menus and ridiculous cocktails.
So when my plans for dining at Crema were replaced by suggestions for this place, I was wary. It's small! It's in the LES. There is no elderflower liquor ANYWHERE to be found. But when a Mexican suggests a Mexican restaurant, you shut your mouth and go with it (I mean, in theory - lord knows my big mouth didn't stay shut. much whining ensued, but that's another story...).
My patient and loving GF and I arrived at Mole around 6 PM this past Friday, desperately in need of tequila and tacos. We sat at the bar waiting for her friend (who suggested Mole) and his BF - there was no wait, although as the night progressed it got a little busier, but not obnoxiously so.
While we waited, we took advantage of the happy hour deals - $4 margaritas, $3 beers, and a handful of food options for less than $5. We had a margarita, a beer and guacamole, which at the bar is a small portion, but more than enough for two people to nosh on as they drink.
For dinner, my GF & I shared the steak tacos & a cheese quesadilla. I mean, I THINK we had the steak tacos. We were into our 2nd round of margaritas now, and things were getting a little fuzzy. The drinks were strong & delicious, and they got stronger & deliciouser once we were at our table. Our food was quite tasty and fresh, I do remember enjoying whatever it is we ordered.
Our bill worked out to about $35 per person - that's about 3 drinks pp, including entrees. Delicious food at cheap prices, with just enough ambiance to keep me happy? Viva La Mole!
I've tried just about every Mexican restaurant in the city and mole has to be in the top 3. They have consistently excellent service and , in my opinion, the best mojitos in the city. I would give the food a 4 also, I always order the enchiladas and love them. Didn't give it 5 stars because they are cash only and that can be annoying in any place that the bill is going to be over $20.
I think I need to eat here again because I was talking too much to really enjoy the meal. I had the enchilada Mole, it was pretty tasty from what I remember. The prices are a little high for what it is but I am finding that a lot of Spanish and Mexican restaurants are charging the same. The place is small, I felt like I was having dinner with the girls sitting next to us. The bartender was friendly and the drinks were good. I will return for a second try.
this place continues to win as my fave mexican spot in the city. i tell everyone about this place and i've taken a majority of my friends here - no one's walked away dissatisfied.
the owner bartends every once in awhile, parks his harley out front, and proudly boasts of his mexican wife who created their recipes and occasionally cooks in the kitchen. happy hour is from 5-7pm and they offer $5 margaritas, guacamole and nachos. the margs are strong and they dip the rim of the glass in a mystery mixture of crunchy salt and a little chile pepper. their ginger margs are the bomb but the pomegranate is good too. the elote asado is great - grilled to perfection and covered with that yummy white cheese and some chile pepper. the carne asado tacos are AMAZING. the meat has so much flavor i can't stop raving about them each time i order. i ordered the carnita tacos once but they were a little salty and i never ordered them again. same with the pork chops entree. i've had friends order the enchiladas and mole and they were both really happy with their choices.
Great place to come grab an early dinner while there are some empty tables.
amazing 5 dollar margaritas at happy hour-- fresh lime juice, none of that premix nonsense! I always try to get here before my g/f so she won't know that I can drink 4 margaritas in 45 minutes.
I always have the same waiter/bartender and he is so intense that he either has ADHD to a freakish extent or he is wired on the best blow in town. But he's nice and very attentive, so its ok.
always get the salsa sampler-- tableside guacamole is for people with more money than sense
tacos are delicious, but I usually go for the chimichanga and fried sweet plantains (maduros)
Mole is a gem, real Mexican food from simple quesadillas and tacos to complex, slow-cooked baby back ribs or steak. Salsa and chips are fresh and homemade and the guacamole is always perfect due to their system of buying the best avocados and rotating them until they're ripe and tasty.
The owner (and bartender) has an uncanny ability to remember his patron's names and is always friendly, more like a boisterous uncle who always makes you feel welcome than a crazed New Yorker. And they take their drinks seriously, you'll never complain they're too weak - the margaritas are made from fresh squeezed juice and cane sugar as opposed to an icky pre-made mix. The duck enchiladas are often on special, and are so delicious that I oooh and aahh every time I eat them. My boyfriend and I have a dinner at Mole when we feel like treating ourselves, and its always a treat.
The brunch is pretty good too but this spot is more suited for a fun evening out where you'll be glad you stuffed yourself with the rich flavors of authentic Mexican spices, chilies, and meat that melts in your mouth.
Very fresh, tasty margaritas and food.
I'd passed Mole many a time before stopping in for dinner recently. And I'm glad that it's now officially in my life.
The margaritas are some of the best I've had in the city. They taste of fresh lime rather than syrup and are rimmed with a delicious spicy salt blend. Pair that with the guacamole that is made table side, and you're in for a treat. The guac is on the expensive side, but Mole boasts a Happy Hour every day from 4-7pm when they serve it up for $5. (The margaritas are $5 during HH, too!)
The basic burrito is a good deal at $10 for the huge portion, and the vegetarian add-in option is delicious.
Service is extremely friendly and helpful with the extensive menu. My only complaint would be that the outdoor seating is very cramped and the scenery of the crowded intersection leaves something to be desired. But I can overlook these things for the incredible margaritas and delicious food. Mole is a winner.
By far the best sit-down Mexican restaurant I've been to in NYC. With 8 years of southern California living under my belt, I'm a bit judgmental when it comes to authentic Mexican food. Unlike some of my SoCal friends, I do believe there are a good amount of great Mexican food in NYC. Bottom line, we agreed to disagree. I digress - back to Mole.
Even though we didn't have reservations we were seated almost immediately - not bad for a group of 5 and a place with limited space. I believe this was because we arrived just before the dinner rush as the place filled up quickly almost after we were seated. The wait staff were amazingly accommodating and friendly. The fresh guacamole was superb and I can't write about the roasted pork dish without salivating all over my keyboard. Even though our stomachs were painfully full, we ordered two different desserts to share, but the awesome chefs surprised us with two additional orders of other desserts. Since I grew up with flan and now sick of it, it wasn't my favorite but it tasted like what my mom would make. I don't remember the other two desserts that was brought out, but the churros that you dip in hot chocolate hit the spot for me.
I can't wait to come back here and try their other daily specials. My only complaint is their slightly high prices.
Good food, great staff, decent prices.
Looking for a little more creative mexican this place hit the spot.
I think we were lucky when we came b/c seating is limited
I came here one night with a group of friends and it took us over an hour to be seated as the space is very, very tiny and BYOB brings out the lingering masses. I would have left, but we had already all brought our bottles of wine and didn't know where else to go.
Once we did get a table, the food was awesome and the service was good as well. I found the food to be very authentically Mexican - as I had spent some time in Minneapolis (of all places!) which had tons of authentic Mexican restaurants (and a huge Mexican population which surprised me) - and this one was exactly like those places I loved so much in Minneapolis. I loved the food here.
I'm not sure if it's still BYOB - but that fact kept our bill down considerably. I would definitely give this place a try if you're in the area.
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Alexander Hamilton Society for Gastronomic and…
